Small Town Girl, 1936, is playing on Turner Classic Movies on Wednesday, November 8 at 10:15 a.m. est. Closed captioned.
Robert Taylor and Janet Gaynor
For most of her career Janet Gaynor did nothing but play small town girls, the best known being Esther Blodgett. But I’ve seen her in films like State Fair and Three Loves Has Nancy and it’s the same part, the girl from the tiny hamlet who conquers the big city and the men in it. With a title like this, there was only one casting possibility.
Janet’s a girl who’s thoroughly stuck in a rut in her New England hamlet and yearns for a little adventure. She finds it in the person of Robert Taylor, a young doctor who comes from a wealthy Boston family. After a night’s carousing Gaynor and Taylor are married, to the chagrin of his fiancée, Binnie Barnes and her boyfriend James Stewart.
Remember this is Boston so Taylor’s father Lewis Stone prevails on Taylor to give the marriage a few months trial. Of course this is where the balance of the story comes in. In many ways this plot seems like a harbinger of The Way We Were.
Taylor’s career was now in full swing as Small Town Girl was the next film after his breakout performance in Magnificent Obsession. Remember in that film he was a playboy who became a doctor. Here’s he’s a doctor who doubles as a playboy. Never mind though, feminine hearts all over the English speaking world were fluttering over MGM’s latest heartthrob. My mother who was a juvenile at this time told me that Taylor’s appeal back in these days was just about the same as Elvis’s.
James Stewart was at the beginning of his career as well as MGM had him in about seven features in 1936, mostly in support. Interesting though with worse career management, he could have gone on playing hick roles like Elmer the boyfriend. But it was also obvious there was a spark of stardom with him as well.
Gaynor would leave the screen a few years later, Taylor was at the beginning of his career. He’d have better acting roles in his future, but for now Small Town Girl is a great example of the screen heartthrob he was at the beginning of his stardom. Fans of both stars will like what they see in Small Town Girl. Review by bkoganbing from Buffalo, NewYork
Taylor has Gaynor upside-down.
Some behind-the-scenes photos:
Left to right: Robert Taylor and Janet Gaynor taking a break on the set; filming a scene; Taylor and Gaynor with singer Frances Langford.
Robert Taylor Actor 
Another movie I’ve never been able to see!
A curiosity. I am convinced that Mr.Taylor’s low popularity is due to his divorce by Barbara Stanwick, as well as his testimony against communism.
But many actors divorced their wives, without affecting them in popularity.Why did Mr.Taylor do it? What do you think about it? Thank you.
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I dodn’t think it has much to do with the divorce. The American left is vicious and has a long memory. Mr. Taylor had the strength to defy them and they will never forget it. The divorce, I think, was a matter of Mr. Taylor no longer feeling that he was the right husband for Ms. Stanwyck. The war had changed him and he saw things very differently than before it. Thanks for writing. Judith
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He was naive about talking and making names. However, I am always convinced that her was a unbalanced woman, but very protected.
Thank you. Fulvia.
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Mr. Taylor was quiet and laid back. Ms. Stanwyck was high-energy, demanding and totally career oriented. Just two very different people. Judith
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Had stroke on 9/19. Have not been able to comment as I can’t remember my password.
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I guess I just found it. Thanks as ever for your blog. Still can’t walk without a walker or write legibly with my right hand. 19 days in hospital & rehab. Now staying with sister where I can get email & TV, including TCM. Comment I tried to make earlier – Ava was leading lady in “Knights of the Roundtable,” Elizabeth Taylor & Joan Fontaine in “Ivanhoe,” a favorite of mine, as is “Knights.”
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Dianne, so glad to hear from you. I’m sorry you’ve been having so many problems. At least you can get TCM. You’re right, of course, about the leading ladies. All my best wishes, Judith.
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